Truth Hurts: Coconut Oil Does Not Belong On Your Face

Almost every DIY skincare recipe you see online involves coconut oil as an ingredient. It’s full of good fatty acids, and people have been singing it’s praises for years. So obviously it must be good for your skin, right? Well, that question has a complicated answer. Sure it does have excellent moisturising properties, and its creamy texture feels good on the skin, but if you use it on your face it can wreak havoc! Here’s why:

It’s Highly Comedogenic

If you’re confused as to what comedogenic is, it basically means the tendency to clog pores. Coconut oil approximately has a comedogenic rating of 4, which is pretty high. If you have dry skin, you may be able to get away with it. However, if you have oily skin and you’re using coconut oil to moisturise your face, you’re basically inviting a dozen of breakouts.

Should You Stop Using It?

Now that we’ve established the fact that coconut oil is highly comedogenic, I have some good news for you. You can use coconut oil to moisturise your body (everything neck down). So make sure not to use it on your face, and you’re good to go.

Side Note: I used to use coconut oil on my scalp; it helped nourish my hair. However, I soon started breaking out on my forehead because the coconut oil trickled down and clogged my pores.

What Can You Use Instead?

If you want to hydrate and moisturise your skin then you should look for ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, squalene etc. Here are a few of my favourite hydrating products:

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Cetaphil Moisturising Cream | (Source: www.watsons.com)

Clinique’s Moisture Surge

Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream | Source: Kiehl’s

Estēe Lauder Advanced Night Repair | Source: Estēe Lauder

What are your thoughts on coconut oil? Let me know in the comments below.